Your Opinion 01/27/03

Published: Monday, January 27, 2003 at 7:52 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, January 27, 2003 at 7:52 a.m.

Deadly choices

I am opposed to the war on Iraq. I am opposed to pre-emptive war. President Bush has demonstrated no link between Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden. They don't even like each other and are, in fact, enemies.
Iraq had no part in the attack on the United States on Sept. 11. The president said he was going to bring bin Laden to justice. What happened to that promise?
I think his speeches and off-the-cuff remarks are responsible for most of the foreign relations problems we have today. Prominent among which, but not wholly inclusive, are: the "axis of evil" speech, "a crusade in the Middle East", constant references to "evil-doer", "Israel is our friend", "don't mess with Texas" and "wanted, dead or alive".
These are not phrases normally used by articulate people.
As a Korean War veteran, Bush's handling of the present Korean crisis greatly annoys me. His axis of evil remarks turned a nonevent into a world crisis.
One of the things I learned in the military was, "Do not needlessly antagonize your enemies." If the president had spent some time in the service, he might have acquired the same knowledge. Stopping by the Texas Air National Guard Armory once a month for a few drinks with the boys is not military service.
His decision to back down from a confrontation with North Korea was a wise one. They can fight back. A war with North Korea would not be popular.
Tax reductions are not a priority with me. The market losses I have incurred since Bush assumed office have greatly reduced my tax liability. I will not have to pay any capital gains tax for a long time. My state intangible tax has also been reduced by 60 percent.
Jimmy D. White
Summerfield

Right fight

Regarding a letter on Jan. 19 from David Sapp, he should be very proud to have a son who knows what duty, honor and country stand for. It's hard to find anyone these days with his son's attitude.
As a Korean War veteran who went into the Navy right out of high school at 17, I felt the same way, as members of my family served in the Spanish American War and World War II. I thought it was my duty to continue to serve my country, just as they did.
I find too many liberals and doves these days who seem to forget people gave their lives so their children and my children will have a chance to be free and enjoy the rights given to us by our forefathers.
It is people like Mr. Sapp's son who will stand up and be counted when the time comes to protect this country against terrorists and terrorist countries. This, while some citizens walk around with posters and signs against those who are about to protect them.
These doves have forgotten what happened on 9/11 and all those people who died because some idiot from a Third World country paid 20 crazed Arabs to kill Americans.
Before it happens again here, we have thousands of brave soldiers who will show the world that they will be ready to protect the United States from these madmen.
God bless America.
Thomas M. Christensen
Dunnellon

Iraq isn't alone

With the exception of the thousands of citizens who demonstrated in Washington and many other parts of our nation to say to our government, "No more war," I cannot imagine the mentality of the lemmings following our own Pied Piper of Hamlin.
My logic says that even if Iraq has weapons of mass destruction and a cruel tyrant as a leader, we, too, have weapons of mass destruction and a cruel tyrant as a leader. The difference is that for 10 years, Iraq's neighbors have been keeping him in check, while ours is being followed by lemmings.
The point to be considered logically is that there are many nations that are no longer friendly or approving - that also have weapons of mass destruction capable of reaching our shores and quite possibly getting past our defenses.
Suppose one or all of them turn their weapons on us. Will the thousands who shouted, "No more war," become human missile shields?
Amelia Schmidt
Ocala

Republican tactics

The letter "Ludicrous" was typical of tactics used by the Republican Party. They've become expert at personal attacks, telling half-truths and throwing slogans at the public to create an illusion. But the truth is easy to find for anyone interested in looking closer.
On the same page of the paper that day were some interesting numbers. More than half of the tax expenditures go to households with incomes over $100,000 per year and only 15 percent go to those earning under $50,000 per year.
Commissioner Randy Harris and his party think this is fair and equitable funding of government. The letter writer didn't explain that the common people, who will be receiving tax breaks under the Republican plan, are the wealthy common people.
There is the possibility that the weight of the tax burden the writer is "staggering" under is the condition of our public education system. When people voted for lower classroom sizes, our governor instantly began threatening cuts of social programs and was caught telling people he had "devious plans" to circumvent the will of the people. His only defense was that he didn't know there were reporters in the room.
It's interesting the writer chose John F. Kennedy's words. We certainly must expect people to ask what they can do for their country. But judging by the Republican viewpoint we are only supposed to ask the poor, the elderly, the children and the sick.
Yet, they are part of this country. So by helping them, aren't we helping our country? In educating tomorrow's leaders, aren't we helping our country? I guess Mr. Harris is willing to do these things as long as it doesn't interfere with his tax breaks.
Trying to find the rationale behind the writer's statements that the Republican Party is the "party of the people" is enough to give me a giant headache.
Under the Republican's plan, my tax break should give me enough to buy a bottle of aspirin - maybe.
Diana Webster
Summerfield

<p class="bold allcaps">Deadly choices</p>I am opposed to the war on Iraq. I am opposed to pre-emptive war. President Bush has demonstrated no link between Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden. They don't even like each other and are, in fact, enemies.<br>
Iraq had no part in the attack on the United States on Sept. 11. The president said he was going to bring bin Laden to justice. What happened to that promise?<br>
I think his speeches and off-the-cuff remarks are responsible for most of the foreign relations problems we have today. Prominent among which, but not wholly inclusive, are: the "axis of evil" speech, "a crusade in the Middle East", constant references to "evil-doer", "Israel is our friend", "don't mess with Texas" and "wanted, dead or alive".<br>
These are not phrases normally used by articulate people.<br>
As a Korean War veteran, Bush's handling of the present Korean crisis greatly annoys me. His axis of evil remarks turned a nonevent into a world crisis.<br>
One of the things I learned in the military was, "Do not needlessly antagonize your enemies." If the president had spent some time in the service, he might have acquired the same knowledge. Stopping by the Texas Air National Guard Armory once a month for a few drinks with the boys is not military service.<br>
His decision to back down from a confrontation with North Korea was a wise one. They can fight back. A war with North Korea would not be popular.<br>
Tax reductions are not a priority with me. The market losses I have incurred since Bush assumed office have greatly reduced my tax liability. I will not have to pay any capital gains tax for a long time. My state intangible tax has also been reduced by 60 percent.<br>
Jimmy D. White<br>
Summerfield<br><h3>Right fight</h3>
Regarding a letter on Jan. 19 from David Sapp, he should be very proud to have a son who knows what duty, honor and country stand for. It's hard to find anyone these days with his son's attitude.<br>
As a Korean War veteran who went into the Navy right out of high school at 17, I felt the same way, as members of my family served in the Spanish American War and World War II. I thought it was my duty to continue to serve my country, just as they did.<br>
I find too many liberals and doves these days who seem to forget people gave their lives so their children and my children will have a chance to be free and enjoy the rights given to us by our forefathers.<br>
It is people like Mr. Sapp's son who will stand up and be counted when the time comes to protect this country against terrorists and terrorist countries. This, while some citizens walk around with posters and signs against those who are about to protect them.<br>
These doves have forgotten what happened on 9/11 and all those people who died because some idiot from a Third World country paid 20 crazed Arabs to kill Americans.<br>
Before it happens again here, we have thousands of brave soldiers who will show the world that they will be ready to protect the United States from these madmen.<br>
God bless America.<br>
Thomas M. Christensen<br>
Dunnellon<br><h3>Iraq isn't alone</h3>
With the exception of the thousands of citizens who demonstrated in Washington and many other parts of our nation to say to our government, "No more war," I cannot imagine the mentality of the lemmings following our own Pied Piper of Hamlin.<br>
My logic says that even if Iraq has weapons of mass destruction and a cruel tyrant as a leader, we, too, have weapons of mass destruction and a cruel tyrant as a leader. The difference is that for 10 years, Iraq's neighbors have been keeping him in check, while ours is being followed by lemmings.<br>
The point to be considered logically is that there are many nations that are no longer friendly or approving - that also have weapons of mass destruction capable of reaching our shores and quite possibly getting past our defenses.<br>
Suppose one or all of them turn their weapons on us. Will the thousands who shouted, "No more war," become human missile shields?<br>
Amelia Schmidt<br>
Ocala<br><h3>Republican tactics</h3>
The letter "Ludicrous" was typical of tactics used by the Republican Party. They've become expert at personal attacks, telling half-truths and throwing slogans at the public to create an illusion. But the truth is easy to find for anyone interested in looking closer.<br>
On the same page of the paper that day were some interesting numbers. More than half of the tax expenditures go to households with incomes over $100,000 per year and only 15 percent go to those earning under $50,000 per year.<br>
Commissioner Randy Harris and his party think this is fair and equitable funding of government. The letter writer didn't explain that the common people, who will be receiving tax breaks under the Republican plan, are the wealthy common people.<br>
There is the possibility that the weight of the tax burden the writer is "staggering" under is the condition of our public education system. When people voted for lower classroom sizes, our governor instantly began threatening cuts of social programs and was caught telling people he had "devious plans" to circumvent the will of the people. His only defense was that he didn't know there were reporters in the room.<br>
It's interesting the writer chose John F. Kennedy's words. We certainly must expect people to ask what they can do for their country. But judging by the Republican viewpoint we are only supposed to ask the poor, the elderly, the children and the sick.<br>
Yet, they are part of this country. So by helping them, aren't we helping our country? In educating tomorrow's leaders, aren't we helping our country? I guess Mr. Harris is willing to do these things as long as it doesn't interfere with his tax breaks.<br>
Trying to find the rationale behind the writer's statements that the Republican Party is the "party of the people" is enough to give me a giant headache.<br>
Under the Republican's plan, my tax break should give me enough to buy a bottle of aspirin - maybe.<br>
Diana Webster<br>
Summerfield<br>